If you have been hanging around these parts for a while, you know that the model for this site is to tell you what the Rays have done, what they are doing and try to project what they will do based on what we have learned. Think of RI as “Tampa Bay Rays 101.” However, for the next 12 days we will step away from the standard, and we present to you 12 “presents” the Tampa Bay Rays should give to their fans.

Without further ado…

On the eighth day of Raysmas, the Tampa Bay Rays gave to us, AN EIGHT-YEAR CONTRACT FOR WIL MYERS…

When Evan Longoria made the jump to the big leagues, he almost immediately signed what was essentially a 9-year contract (6-years plus 3 option years). Considering how most saw that as the best contract ever (or worst depending on your point of view), we are not likely to see another player commit to giving away so much so soon again. But maybe the Rays can get something close from Wil Myers.

If Myers starts the year in the minors as expected, the Rays will get nearly seven years from the top prospect before he hits free agency. If they can sign him to a long-term contract — let’s say 6-year deal with 2 option years — they will get one extra year from Myers and can also call him up this year a little earlier.

The other benefit is something we talk about a lot around here, cost certainty. The Rays don’t mind spending money. But what they hate is not knowing how much money they have to spend. Long term deals for their top players removes that uncertainty that comes during the arbitration years, which can have a big impact on the team’s budget from year to year.

Just a guess, but considering how quickly this got done, I'd say it is a good deal for the Rays. Maybe $8-9 million. And he is repped by Bo McKinnis. McKinnis doesn't have a lot of big leaguers. RA Dickey is his other big-name guy.

I believe Bo is David Price's agent, isn't he? I will look at Cot's but I thought Bo was Price's agent at some point too.

It would be inexcusable for Wil to be "held hostage" in the minors. It's bad enough to listen to Kevin Kennedy admit on Sirius/XM that Beckham was drafted ahead of Buster Posey for financial considerations. Just another black eye, oh well.

Whoaaa nelly! The Royals never even brought the kid up for a look see in the Majors. Just let him get evaluation in Pt Charlotte and then get some time in Durham. No rush. We want his cheapest most productive years IF he becomes a good MLB ballplayer.

We are so offensively starved I know he looks like the savior but just be real. Slow down. How does 140 K's in AAA translate to the Majors? I have heard he swings at alot of stuff outside the strike zone which is his achilles heel. AL MLB pitchers are way ahead of AAA pitchers in exploiting that. Lets just wait and see.

I wont be surprised if we dont see him before the All Star Break. It may not be because of Rays cheap pursestrings reasons but sound baseball 'hes still developing' reasons.

Don't know the particulars of Myres current contract, but just guessing he will be playing a lot of years for $400,000+, why would'nt a player sign 6-7 year deal (ala Longo) and get $50 mil. in the bank before he even swings a bat againstVerlander/Sabatha.. Longo was smart he could have been hurt even worse than he has been...still would have collected 47 mil..whats wrong with that....FA would be next at 28-29 yo....perfect..

Strikeouts are important to look at, but you also have to look at his walk rate which has been pretty high his whole career minus his 2012 Double A time. Young guys will strike out. Look at Longo the first couple years. The important thing to look at is if his walk rate remains high. Strike outs should fall with age if he continues to increase his walk rate. Generally the great players do this. Good to average players will continue to struggle with k's despite a high walk rate (see: BJ Upton)

For those of you assuming he's ML ready in April 1 and its the cheap Rays trying to squeeze another year of control out of him I have some questions.

1) If he is ready for prime time why didn't the Royals bring him up for a look-see in September of this year?

2) Was he even on the 40 man?

I looked at his AAA stats, of the top 50 or so batters he was the only 1 who was 22 the rest were older (in that league). Granted the Royals are actually a good offensive team and are strong in the outfield where as we suck offensively and have gaping holes in the lineup.

I have high hopes for the kid but I know after every loss from April forward where we dont score much, the screaming for Wil the savior to be unleashed will be increased. If we get 7 years of control we want the good 7 years. No need to start the clock until he is going to be a definite improvement over our AAAA players we have now. I will trust the judgement of the Rays to tell us when he's ready.

He might not be ready. But it is also possible the Royals didn't call him up because, like many low-budget teams, they didn't want to start his arb/free agency clocks with some meaningless games in September. Different teams have different thoughts, but some teams dont think top prospects need "look-sees." You know those guys are going to be fine and you already have a pretty good idea what they are and what they will be (everyday players at worst). And a handful of games in September aren't going to have a big impact on how a team views those guys. It's the in-between guys that you want to look at and see if they are worth keeping or continuing to develop.

Yes all you say is true but my main point is that i think for the Royals he was still somewhat of a question mark and a player who did not fit into their MLB plans in 2013. And they know him wayyyyyy better than any Rays fan and anyone in the Rays organization for that matter.

So now we are offensively starved obviously and he is suddenly can't miss. Sign him long term. Longo 2.0 with two good hammies. Ready to Start 2013 from day one but the crafty/ stingy (take your pick) Rays are just holding him back. Some wingnut former GM on ESPN is speculating that if the Rays hold him back briefly in 2013 its one of the 'Biggest Risks' of 2013.

What will we do in year 7 when he's free??? I heard a $50M contract thrown out there.

Slow down Rays fans he is a prospect still he isnt a sure thing. He has never swung at Major League breaking pitch from an elite arm.